Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Julian
I've been expecting this call all day, and frankly, I was growing concerned when Maya didn't reach out by mid-afternoon.
I held my breath and checked my phone repeatedly waiting for her to get in touch.
She has only a few hours left before the contract she signed expires and I go in search of another broker.
I checked in with Anne Carvel earlier in the day. She was the one who informed me that an offer had been made. I was tempted to text Maya to ask if there had been any activity, but this is her deal, and how she approaches it is entirely up to her.
"Maya," I answer on the second ring. "How are you?"
"Happy," she responds quickly. "First things first, you're an incredible lover."
I chuckle as I glance out at my deserted office. It's been hours since my assistant left. Some of the other executives hung back until the early evening, but they've all since gone home.
"You know how I feel about your lovemaking skills, Maya. I'm blown away."
That brings a bubble of laughter over the line. "If our meeting goes well, a blowjob may be in your very near future."
Blurring the line between business and pleasure has never bothered me. It does now. I want this deal to happen because it would be beneficial to us both. If anything goes wrong, it could impact us in a very personal way.
"Do we have a meeting scheduled?"
"I called your assistant but she'd left for the day so I penciled myself in for ten p.m."
I glance down at the clock on my desk. I rub my forehead trying to ease the stress. "I should expect you within the next ten minutes?"
"You should expect me now, handsome. I'm early. Look up."
I do. I see my beautiful Maya, with a leather briefcase in her hand and every expectation in the world in her eyes.
"Why are we in the conference room?" She surveys the long wooden table with the dozen chairs surrounding it. "Is someone else joining us?"
I place my hand on her lower back to guide her to the chair next to the head of the table where I'll be seated. "I wanted us to be more comfortable. My desk is a mess and this room affords us more space."
She doesn’t respond but waits patiently as I pull out the chair before she sits.
I take the seat next to her and clear my throat. "What are we meeting about? Do you have an offer?"
"I do." She reaches down to grab her briefcase, clicking the cover open with her thumb. "It's lower than what you were looking for, but I feel it's a solid offer."
She pulls an offer form from the case and slides it across the table to me. I skim it, taking note of the buyer which is a company, the offer, and the terms.
"You can see that it's a solid offer. It's a million less than ask and I know that you were set on the price, but you have to consider what comparable properties in the city are selling for," she pauses.
"I understand that those don't come with the same amenities as the penthouse but you're getting one of the highest cost per square foot that Chelsea has ever seen. "
I want to tell her to stop. I look down at the paper, scanning the details although none of them are sinking in.
"Maya." I slide the paper forward on the desk. "It's a good offer."
"You think it's a good offer?" Her eyes brighten.
I stumble with what to say next. I've been anticipating this for some time. I've worked hard behind the scenes to secure this deal. I feel like shit right now that I'm not confessing that to her but I want her to have this sale so she can shine with the additional eleven units all on her own.
I finger the edge of the document as I look around the room.
"I need a moment, Maya." I start to push back from the table, unease settling over me. "I have to clear my head."
Her hand on my forearm stops me. "Don't go. I have something else to show you."
I love the flirtation but I can't even look her in the eye right now. "It will need to wait."
"It can't wait." She reaches down into her bag again and fumbles for something. I watch her every move until another paper appears in her hand.
"I also have this." She slides a second offer sheet across the table toward me and my stomach clenches into a tight knot. "Full ask, no contingencies, thirty day close and all cash."
Fuck.
I scrub my hands over my face. It's so fucking impressive that I'm at a loss for words.
"I received the second offer less than an hour ago." She tugs on the corner of the offer sheet. "It's from Tom and Irene Clarkson. They want to spend the rest of their lives there, dancing their nights away, drinking their morning coffee on the terrace."
"I can't accept it." My voice sounds foreign, broken and sullen.
"What?" She laughs. "You can't accept what?"
"The Clarksons." I don't look at her. "I'm accepting the other offer, Maya."
I know what that means to her. The lost extra commission and the call she'll have to make to Tom and Irene explaining that their ideal offer was rejected.
"You're not making sense." She pushes the offer sheet toward me again. "This offer is exactly what you wanted. You have to take it."
"I can't take it." I push it back at her. "I'm accepting the other offer."